Targeted ablation of the vitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase gene: getting to the heart of the matter

Abstract

Targeted gene ablation technology has uncovered biological mechanisms that have led to important therapeutics in humans. In a study by Zhou et al., ablation of the 1alpha-hydroxylase gene led to hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and systolic dysfunction, and this cardiac phenotype was rescued with exogenous 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D administration.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00497146 NCT00616902.